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Studies on some ornithophilic mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) of the Kano Plain, Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. A. Chandler ,
R. B. Highton  and
P. F. L. Boreham
J. A. Chandler
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 1971, Kisumu, Kenya
R. B. Highton
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 1971, Kisumu, Kenya
P. F. L. Boreham
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College of Science and Technology, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, England
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Abstract

During 1972–74, 13 865 female mosquitoes of 25 species from eight genera were collected at the Kisumu heronry using light-traps, chicken-baited traps and battery-driven aspirators. A total of 3298 of these were engorged and 2169 were subjected to precipitin testing in order to determine their food sources. A high percentage of feeds on birds was recorded for Coquillettidia karandalaensis (Wolfs) (96%), Culex poicilipes (Theo.) (82%), and C. univittatus gp (65%); Mansonia uniformis (Theo.), M. africana (Theo.) and C. antennatus (Becker) were found to feed on birds occasionally. Results from catches in CDC light-traps set at various heights in trees with nesting birds indicated that C. univittatus gp, C. poicilipes and Aedomyia africana Nev.-Lem. were active in the upper levels of the canopy. Further analysis of blood-meals from birds indicated that C. univittatus gp mosquitoes were feeding principally on ciconiiform birds. Any mosquito which feeds regularly on birds and man must be considered as a potential vector of arboviruses; the results indicate that the most important vectors at Kisumu are probably C. univittatus gp mosquitoes.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 66 , Issue 1 , March 1976 , pp. 133 - 143
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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